Miguel Hernandez University

Currently, there are various approaches to the treatment of diabetes. Regarding type 2 diabetes (T2D), treatment focuses on blood glucose control. When changes in lifestyle do not achieve this glycemic control, the option is to start therapy with antidiabetic drugs such as metformin. However, long-term metformin use causes disturbances that may affect treatment approaches. This review examines recent advances in nanotechnology that have developed new forms of drug administration that can improve the efficacy of the treatment, where nanomaterials, nanostructures, and nanoparticle design are involved, so that they provide controlled and gradual release. The use of biopolymers (as drug delivery systems) has ensured biocompatibility, biodegradability, and low toxicity. There are several methods for obtaining a drug delivery system, including electrospinning, electrospraying, nanoprecipitation, etc. These systems improve drug delivery and can be used orally, transdermally, or intravenously, among means of administration. This review describes the new forms of the administration of metformin in the treatment of T2D, based on the encapsulation of metformin in polymeric matrices such as proteins, polysaccharides, and lipids, among others.

Human dihydrofolate reductase (hDHFR) is a crucial cellular enzyme in folate metabolic pathway, where it catalyzes the reduction of dihydrofolate into tetrahydrofolate (THF) and an important cofactor involved in DNA, RNA, protein biosynthesis and cell proliferation. Due to its importance, hDHFR has become a promising target for therapeutic development, particularly in treating cancer, bacterial infections, and autoimmune diseases. Its inhibition has found clinical value in antitumor, antimicrobial and antiprotozoal treatment; however, the emergence of resistance to existing hDHFR inhibitors necessitates the development of new and more potent compounds. In the current study, we propose a cheminformatics-based approach using machine learning to develop predictive models of hDHFR bioactivity. We used three types of molecular descriptors in the form of fingerprints, i.e., PubChem, Substructure, and MACCS, to capture structural properties associated with hDHFR inhibition. Predictive models were built using a random forest algorithm optimized through hyperparameter tuning. Feature selection was performed using Recursive Feature Elimination (RFE), and dataset dimensionality was reduced by removing outliers through Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to optimize model performance and reducing overfitting and weak predictivity. The resulting models are validated through external test sets, domain applicability analysis, and interpretation of influential molecular features via random forest feature importance selection plots and correlation matrix analysis. All three models exhibited strong predictive capabilities, with R-squared (R2) values ranging from 0.9849 to 0.9934 for the training set and 0.9381 to 0.9591 for the test set. These final predictive models were further incorporated into an accessible web application, enabling users to estimate the bioactivity of new compounds targeting hDHFR.

Once the significance of artificial intelligence (AI) in journalism is acknowledged, the future of the profession largely depends on how its key actors organize to address its effects. Based on 21 semi-structured interviews with executives, technicians, and journalists from eight leading UK media outlets, this article examines organizational changes (such as interdisciplinary work groups and training programs), differing reactions among professional profiles, internally developed AI projects, and the use of generative AI tools. The findings reveal uneven levels of development across these areas, influenced mainly by prior experience and the relationship with AI technology. Professionals with more technical or data-oriented roles tend to adopt AI more readily, while others express caution or skepticism. At the organizational level, long-term strategies and early investment emerge as key factors differentiating advanced implementations from more exploratory approaches. The research also reflects that half of the media outlets analyzed are implementing their own AI developments, and that most professionals are using tools based on this technology in some way. Understanding and critically analyzing these dynamics is essential to ensure that the profound industrial transformation underway benefits both the sustainability and integrity of the sector.

The escalating demand for non-renewable resources is anticipated to intensify extractive activities, which are invariably associated with significant environmental externalities. The rehabilitation of mined landscapes, undertaken to mitigate ecological degradation and reinstate ecosystem functions and biodiversity, is frequently constrained by substantial financial requirements as well as intricate technical, logistical, and environmental challenges. As a consequence, a considerable proportion of extractive sites worldwide remain unreclaimed. There is a critical need for sustainable, cost-effective, and versatile restoration practices. This article presents a bibliographic review focusing on problems encountered in mine remediation and the role of technosols in addressing these issues. Mine restoration initiatives are confronted with a suite of interrelated challenges, including suboptimal soil physicochemical characteristics, hydrological instability, geomorphological hazards, and the exacerbating effects of extreme climatic events. Technosols, formulated from various waste materials, prove to be a versatile and cost-effective biotechnology that can significantly improve soil fertility, reduce erosion, enhance water retention, and restore biological activity. Their application, which can include mining waste and organic residues, substantially lowers costs estimated globally at EUR 829.711 billion for soil formation and contributes to a circular economy. Technosols represent a promising and efficient biotechnology for mine restoration. Their use facilitates the creation of stable, functional, and self-sustaining landscapes, enabling not only environmental recovery but also social and economic benefits through post-restoration land uses. Further research and knowledge transfer are vital for their broader and optimised implementation.

Purpose Notwithstanding increased patient safety initiatives, adverse events and their impact on those involved continue. The strategic approaches adopted to manage safety by other high-intensity, high-risk and complex industries, such as aviation, have led to an increase in the systems approach for safety management in healthcare organisations. Professional expertise from members of the European Researchers’ Network for Second Victims (ERNST) highlighted that safety and the second victim phenomenon are interconnected across the healthcare ecosystem, extending beyond individual healthcare organisations. Design/methodology/approach Evidence from different sources, mainly the literature and practitioner professional expertise, was iteratively aggregated and analysed using theoretical systems-based approaches to conceptualise a framework for integrated safety in safety management systems in health. Findings A cross-sectional view of the healthcare organisation affected by adverse events was presented as a baseline. The whole system (system levels) approach, representing the healthcare system at the micro-, meso- and macro-level, adapting the model for integrated care, was then adopted. A safety-generating culture was considered to integrate and network across the levels of the healthcare system. The “system” (processes) approach, also considering external factors, was incorporated. This iterative conceptualisation led to a proposed framework for integrated safety. This framework was applied to systematically make recommendations for actions to support safety across the healthcare ecosystem. Originality/value Aggregation of evidence from the literature, together with expertise from professionals and iterative conceptualisation across models adopting the systems approach, led to a comprehensive framework for integrated safety in safety-management systems.

ABSTRACT Lindane is a persistent organic contaminant that poses adverse environmental and health risks due to its toxicity and extensive use in agriculture. Therefore, efficient remediation methods are required to reduce soil contamination and enhance food safety. Microbial degradation is a highly suitable, eco‐friendly, and cost‐effective approach to treating contaminated soils. Some soil microorganisms convert lindane into non‐toxic or less toxic substances via different degradation pathways, with bacteria typically achieving faster degradation than fungi. Additionally, microbial‐assisted remediation approaches can further enhance lindane degradation in soils. This review focuses on the microbial potential for lindane degradation and highlights future research directions, particularly the application of omics‐based and gene‐editing tools for improving these strategies.

The blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) has rapidly invaded several coastal lagoons along the Western Mediterranean. However, there are still no comprehensive assessments of its population biology, habitat use and trapping efficiency in critical habitats. A two-year study (November 2021 – September 2023) was conducted in a natural corridor zone placed between the hypersaline Mar Menor coastal lagoon and the Mediterranean Sea. Our main goal was to assess the population structure, habitat use and trapping efficiency (four types of traps) of the blue crab. The blue crab shows a population dynamic and structure that reflects its full settlement and reproductive movements across the study area. Most captures corresponded to adults and subadults, peaking in summer, and largest crabs were recorded in November. A significant relationship was found between crab size, habitat type (Cymodocea nodosa meadows, Caulerpa prolifera meadows and bare substrates) and trap effectiveness. Trapping efficiency varied with both habitat characteristics and crab size, showing a positive relationship of juveniles and adults with muddy substrates, while water depth had a negative influence on juveniles and subadults. However, results supported great plasticity at the microhabitat scale. Fyke nets were identified as the most effective trapping method. Trap type significantly affected the number of captures as a function of crab size and sex, with subadults and females being predominantly captured in fyke nets. These findings provide novel insights into the species’ population biology in invaded regions and cost-efficient control methods, enabling the design of priority management strategies in shallow waters to minimize impacts from crab invasions and to ensure ecological integrity.

The COVID-19 pandemic has underlined the essential role of primary healthcare (PHC) in epidemiological surveillance and public health decision-making. Across Europe, the integration of electronic health records (EHRs) and the sentinel networks have been pivotal in monitoring COVID-19. However, the lack of standardized PHC indicators for COVID-19 hinders the comparability of data among countries. To establish a consensus on a set of standardized PHC activity indicators related to the COVID-19 pandemic for 31 countries, enhancing the capability of health authorities to make informed decisions and prepare for future health crises. A two-round eDelphi study was conducted using a structured web-based survey, following the CREDES guidelines, to achieve consensus among a panel of 164 experts from the Eurodata study. 86 Indicators were selected based on their availability during the current pandemic, with participants rating the relevance and utility of proposed indicators. Of the 22 initial indicators, seven received consensuses for inclusion, while two remained contentious after the second round. The study found significant discrepancies in the awareness of sentinel networks and accessibility to PHC data. The consensus emphasized the necessity for indicators to be standardized, reproducible, and easily extractable from databases, with recommendations for disaggregation by age, sex, and vaccination status. Key COVID-19 indicators for PHC were identified, reflecting a consensus among healthcare professionals. Further cooperation between PHC providers and national public health authorities is warranted both on the national and the international level to harmonized healthcare indicators in response to future health emergencies.